Opportunities for U.S. firms abroad are abundant, but international competition is fierce. This panel will engage business leaders in a conversation on the export opportunities in the global marketplace, the challenges they face, and policy recommendations to strengthen American competitiveness.

Alice Albright, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ex-Im Bank, presented awards to Ex-Im Bank customers who were recognized for supporting U.S. export and creating job growth, in markets around the world.

The winners are:

Ceilings Plus, Los Angeles, CA -- Small Business Exporter of the Year

A manufacturer and installer of high-quality aluminum and wood ceilings and wall panels. Ceilings Plus has installed its specialty ceilings at facilities such as the Newseum in Washington, D.C.; the Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock, AR; and the Kodak Theatre, Hollywood, CA. A user of Ex-Im Bank’s working capital loan guarantee since 2007, the company has increased its work force from 79 in April 2007 to 152 in 2011 and exports made up 53 percent of the company sales in 2011.

Wells Fargo & Company, San Francisco, CA – Lender of the Year

Wells Fargo has been an excellent partner of Ex-Im Bank and has made a significant contribution over the years to the growth of Ex-Im Bank’s working capital program. Wells Fargo’s activity using all Ex-Im Bank products totaled $1.1 billion, of which approximately $407 million benefited small businesses.

Trade Acceptance Group, Edina, MN -- Broker of the Year

An active promoter of credit insurance to small-business exporters from coast to coast, Trade Acceptance Group (TAG) provides innovative trade-finance solutions using Ex-Im Bank products to its customers. TAG was previously awarded as Ex-Im Bank’s Broker of the Year in 2002 and 2008.

Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington -- City/State Partner of the Year

Ex-Im Bank’s City/State Partners bring state and local nonprofit economic development entities together to expand awareness of export opportunities and financing. The Export Finance Assistance Center of Washington (EFACW) conducted more than 300 trade-counseling sessions last year and held 50 presentations, including training for delegated authority lenders that can commit Ex-Im Bank’s working capital loan guarantees.

An $805.6 million direct loan by Ex-Im Bank to South Africa’s state-owned electric-power utility, Eskom, Ltd., to support the purchase of engineering and construction services from Black & Veatch for the construction of the Kusile power plant in the Mpumulanga Province. As a result of the project, nearly 300 jobs have been created at Black & Veatch in the United States and U.S.-based employees in South Africa.

Northern Power, Barre, VT – Clean Energy Exporter of the Year Northern Power Systems designs, manufactures and sells wind turbines to the global marketplace from its headquarters in Barre, Vt. Northern Power Systems used Ex-Im Bank’s Renewable Express financing to export 55 of its wind turbines for community wind projects in Italy. More than 15 jobs are being directly supported by these transactions at the Barre production facility and approximately 30 to 45 additional jobs in the company’s supply chain.

Hispasat Canarias, S.L.U. of Spain -- Deal of the Year Ex-Im Bank has financed two Loral-built satellites for Hispasat S.A. of Spain, a well-known European satellite operator. The satellite projects have created 262 full-time jobs.

Brookings Institution - Chairman’s Award The Brookings Institution Metropolitan Policy Program was recognized for its recently released report, “Export Nation 2012,” which analyzes changes in the export sector of the largest 100 U.S. metropolitan areas. The report provides a series of policy recommendations on how to better connect the National Export Initiative with the Metropolitan Export Initiative and help regions better connect their firms to global customers.

Leaders in business, media, and finance will discuss economic, political, and business trends including the trajectory and long-term effects of the recent financial crises, evolutoin of BRIC economics, global macroeconomic re-balancing, changes in the international financial landscape, and key political developments around the world.

Building and Rebuilding for the World’s Future: Infrastructure Opportunities for American Companies

This panel will focus on the growing demand for infrastructure projects around the globe. From Latin America to Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa, countries are expanding their middle class and increasing their need for transportation, power, telecommunicationns and core technologies.